Feeding mechanism for grinding machines



1929- G. l. DANLY l ,725,444

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR GRINDING MACHINES Filed July 25. 1927 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q INVENTOR:

650 R65 0A NL Y,

A TTORNE Y.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR GRINDING MACHINES Filed July 25. 1927 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 i INVENTOR:

G50? 66' 04 /v. r,

A TTORNE Y.

Aug. 20, 19 29. DANLY 1,725,444

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR GRINDING MACHINES Filed y 25. 1927 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 Had.

uvvsurom GEORGE 0ANLY, BY

ATTORNEY.

1929- s. DANLY 1,725,444

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR GRINDING IACHINES Filed July 25. 1927 9 She'ets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

GEORGE 0A NL Y,

A TTORNEY.

Aug. 1929- G. l. DANLY 1,725,444

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR GRINDING MACHINES Filed July 25. 1927 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR:

6509s: A 04w: Y, BY

ATTORNEY.

G. l. DANLY Aug. 20, 1929.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR GRINDING ncnnms V Filed July 25. 1927 9' Shegts-Sheet 7 F/GJO.

I N VEN TOR.

GEOHGE 0/! NZ Y,

A TTORNEY.

' Aug. 20, 1929. G. l. DANLY 1,725,444

. FEEDING IECHANISM FOR GRINDING MACHINES Filed July 25. 1927 9 Sheets-Sheet a A TTORNE Y.

Aug. 20, 1929. G. DANLY FEEDING MECHANISM FOR GRINDING IACHINES Filed July 25. 1927 9 Sheets-Shet 9 I as I L? i 40 38 LJ z, u 7 1 i-wus l 1 I l l I 7 INVENTOR.

GEORGE flA/VL Y, 4 2 42 BY F7672 az ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 20, 1929. 1,725,444 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE-2..

' GEORGE IRVING DANLY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNO R TO DANLY MACHINE SPE- CIALTIES, INC., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR GRINDING MACHINES.

Application filed July 25, 1927. Serial No. 208,856.

This invention relates to mechanisms for jaws of the swinging carrier are automatiautomatically feeding rollers, tappets and cally opened and closed upon a piece of work the like between the grinding and feeding in one position of said carrier and at a. sucwheels of the centerlesstype of roller grindceeding period of such movement, said jaws ing machines, and has for its various obare opened to deliver the piece of work to jects: the grinding and feeding wheels of a grind- To provide a structuralformation andasing machine and in unison with the operasociation of parts in a feeding mechanism tion of said machine. whereby the unfinished tappets or similar To provide means whereby the controlli 10 bodies are singly and successively taken from means of the operating mechanism by whic a loose mass of such bodies in a holding hopintermittent movement is imparted to the per, and placed in a row, one following the Swinging work holder, is rendered certain in other upon a receiving track or table from continued operating of the work feeding which they are successively'taken-by a swingmechanism, all liability to interference due 15 ing carrier and deposited between the grindto a lack of full throw or movement of the in g and feeding wheels of a center-less grindtappet mechanisms by which the controlling ing machine. mechanism aforesaid is actuated, is avoided To provide means whereby the swmgmg in a certain and effective manner. carrier for the unfinished bodies, 1s auto- To provide a structural formatlon and 20 matically actuated in unison with the mechacombination of a supply hopper, a selecting nism of a centerless grinding machine that appliance and a work receiver track or table, expels the ground roll or like object from whereby the unfinished tappet or like piece the machine, and so that said carrier in a of work is lifted in single order, and posiposit-ion adj accnt to the associated grinding tioned on said track or table for engagement and feeding wheels of the machine will have by the gripping jaws of a carrier by which 30 its work gripping means operated to a rethe work is carried to and delivered to the lease position to drop an unfinished tappet wheels of a grinding machine or the like, all

or like piece of unfinished work between said as will hereinafter more fully appear.

wheels in unison with the action of the afore- In the accompanying drawin s 2-- said expelling mechanism on a piece of work Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the preferred that ha been fini hed, form of the present invention, and showing To provide a structural formation and the same in associated relation to parts and combination'of parts in the swinging work portions of a centerless roll grinding macarrier and its work engaging aws, adapted chine.

to attain an initial opening and subsequent Fig. 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal secholding movement of grasping jaws of the t-ion showing the primary power shaft and carrier upon a piece of work, with a holding the countershaft operatively connected of said piece of work during the forward thereto.

swing of the carrier to its proper delivery Fig. 2 is a general plan view of the same.

position, with an automatic release of the Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail side elevation piece of work as such position is reached. of the oscillating selector member and asso- To provide means whereby the swinging ciated clearer head.

carrier, at rest at its work delivery position, Fig. 4 is a detail transverse section of the is automatically set in motion to move to its same on line 44 of Fig. 3.

45 proper delivery point, and then have a re- Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail top view, partturn movement to its rearward work engagly in section, of the automatic positioning ing position to engage a succeeding piece of mechanism by which an unfinished tappet is work and a forward movement to the point moved along its supporting track and held of rest above set forth. Such forward movein proper position for engagement by the ment of the swinging carrier following the gripping jaws of the work carrier. 106

rear movement of the same, after a slight Fig. 6 is a detail side elevationof the same.

period of rest during which the gripping Fig. 7 is a detail transverse elevation,

jaws of the carrier engaged a piece of work. partly in section on line 7-7 Fig. 2, show- To provide a structural formation and ing the operative connections between the combination of parts whereby the gripping primary shaft and the oscillating selector, 110

and between primary shaftjand the intermittently revoluble. countershaft of the intermittent operating mechanisms of the structure. 7 e V Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail side QlGVHtlOIl.

of intermittent operating mechanism of the swinging work carrier, the automatic controlling means for said carrier, and the operative connectionsof the clutch mechanism of the countershaft of said mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a like view of same, with parts removed to illustrate parts partly hidden in Fi 8. r

Fig. 10 is a. detail transverse section of the aforesaid intermittent operating mechanism, on line 1010 Fig. 8. I

Fig. 11 is a detail transverse section on line 1111 Fig. 8.

Fig. 12is a detail side elevation of the rack and yoke bar and associated parts of the operating mechanism of the swinging carrier. Fig. 13 is a detail end elevation of the same.

Fig. 14 is a detail sideelevation of the friction clutch connection of the carrying shaft of the swinging carrier and the driving gear wheel of said shaft.

.Fig. 15 is a detail rear elevation of the swinging work carrier. its work gripper head, and actuating mechanism of the gripping jaws of said head.

Fig. 16 is a detail side elevation of the same with parts broken away and in section.

Fig. 17, is a detail section on line 1717. Fig. 16 of the operating mechanism of the jaws of the gripper head. I

Like reference numerals indicate like parts in the several views.

For the purpose of illustrating the operative association of the present automatic work feeding mechanism with a centerless roll grinding machine, the grinding wheel 1. associated feeding wheel 2, the rocker shaft 3 by which the finished work ejecting mechanism is operated and a portion 4 of the main frame of such grinding machine, is shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

. The purpose of the present invention is to attain the feeding of cylindrical bodies, such as headed valve tappets having a cylindrical shank and an enlarged head at one end, in an automatic and serial manner to proper grinding relation between the grinding wheel 1 and associated feeding wheel 2 of a centerless roll grinding machine of any usual and adaptable construction.

. The preferred general arrangement of the present mechanisms as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a stationary supporting frame or bed 5, fixedly attached to the main frame 4, of a grinding machine and provided with transverse guides 5' upon which is mounted in a transversely adjustable manner a hopper 6 for containing a supply of unground tappets, or the like to be ground. The objectbeing toadjust the present feeding mechanisni to proper relation with the grinding and'feeding wheels of the grinding machine, from time to time, as said grinding wheel wears'away in continued use.

The hopper 6 constitutes the support for the different units of the feeding mechanism,

and is preferably of the rectangular form shown, with its bottom wall or floor sloping down from the four sides and formed with a central longitudinal slotextending from one end to midway the length of the hopper, for the movement of an oscillating selector member 7 by which the .unground tappets arelifted serially from the hopper (Sand transferred unto a stationary receiving track or table 11. hereinafter described in detail.

The oscillating selector member 7 as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, comprises a pair of vertically arranged counterpart plates 8, segmental in shape, and attached at their lower ends to the opposite sides of a radial intermediate web 9, the carrying hub 9- of whichis mounted on a transverse shaft 10, which in turn is journalled in bearings at an end of the hopper 6. the construction providing for the required oscillatory movement of the selector member by an operating mechanism hereinafter described. In the present construction the aforesaid flat intermediate web 9 is of a width somewhat greater than the diameter of the shankportion of the unground tappets to be operated on, in order that the shank portion of a tappet may freely enter the space between the spaced selector plates 8, in the operation of the mechanism and be lifted up by its headed portion and deposited on the stationary receiving track or table 11 now to be described.

The stationary receiving track or table 11 above referred to, comprises a pair of vertically arranged plate members fixedly attached to the hopper 6, in aligned relation to the selector plates 7 aforesaid. and in similarly spaced relation to provide a runway for the shank portions of the unground tappets on the receiving track 11. Each of said plate members is formed with a horizontally arranged forward track portion 12 upon which the unground tappets are supported in position to be engaged by the gripping jaws of the swinging carrier hereinafter described. and extending rearwardly from said forward portions the said plates are formed with a rearward portion 13, in aligned and contact relation to the respective selector plates 7 and with the upper edges or faces of such rearward portion 13 having an upward- 1y inclined formation, corresponding with the inclination of the upper edges or faces of the selector plates? when in their fully elevated position so as to constitute a straight line extension thereof.

In the preferred construction shown in Figs. 1, and 3, the rear edges of the plate members constituting the receiving track 11 is of a convex form for sliding contact of the concave forward edges of the selector plates 7, aforesaid. I

With the described arrangement of parts, and with an uuground to pet supported by its headed portion upon tlie upper edges of the selector plates 7 with its shank portion depending into the space or runway between the plates, said tappet will, as the selector plates nears their elevated position, slide by gravity in a downward direction onto and between the inclined rearward portion 13 of the stationary receiving track 11, and from thence to a osition of rest upon the horizontal fOl'WtlltFPOltlOfl 12 of said track, for accurate positioning thereon by the hereinafter described automatic positioning mechanism, so as to be engaged by the griping jaws of the hereinafter describrdswingmg carrier by which the tappet is taken and carried and delievered to the grinding and feeding wheels 1, 2, of a grinding machine.

Accidental passage to and entry on the receiving track 11 above described of an unground tappet of a greater size. than the. size for which the mechanism is arranged and intended is automatically prevented by an association of parts as follows A reciprocating head 14 of a rectangular shape and formed with side walls or flanges 15, is slidingly mounted on the upper edge or face of the track portion, 13, with the walls or flanges 15 in bearing contact with such edges of said track portions. The. walls or flanges 15 are spaced apart a distance which permit passage of the headed portion of an unground tappet of the proper size, while preventing the passage of a tappet head or other body of a size greater than the space separating said walls or flanges 15. and so that in the normal reciprocation of the head 14, such irregular articles will be swept off the track portion 18, back into the hopper 6, for removal by the operator when he observes the same.

Motion of the reciprocating head 14 in unison with the movement of the selector plates 8, is attained by a rock arm 16 associated with said plates and having link con nection 17 with the head 14, as shown in Fig. 1.

Intermittent oscillation of the selector member 7 aforesaid, is attained by means of a crank or wiper arm 18 carried by a transverse shaft 19 which has operative connection with the primary longitudinal driving shaft 20 of the machine through a worm and worm wheel connection 21 contained in a housing 21, by which the mechanism is protected from accident. In the construction shown said shaft 20 is supported in hearings on the hopper 6, and preferably receives motion from an operating motor 22, mounted on said hopper.

The crank or wiper arm 18 has operative contact with the forward and lower end of the selector member 7, which at such point of contact is formed with concave depressions 23 in which the crank or wiper arm 18 travels without imparting movement to the selector member 7, in order that said lates may have a period of rest in their ully elevated position.

With the present construction and arrangement of parts the normal position of the series of unground tappets in their downward passage along the inclined rear portion 13 of the receiving track or tablell aforesaid, is with the fore portions of the heads of the rearward tappets resting or riding on the rear portions of the heads of the tappets at a point where the inclined rearward portion 13 of the trackway 11 joins the horizontal forward ortion' thereof, means as follows are rovi ed:

Adjacent to the a ove stated point of juncture of the track portions 12 and 13, and at a distance above the same, slightly greater than the height of the head of an unground tappet for which the present mechanism is set or adjusted as shown in Fig. 6, a bridge rail 24 is fixedly supported, and with its rearward end formed with an upwardly and rearwardly inclined face 25. \Vith such construction tie head portion of the foremost unground tappet is free to pass beneath the bridge rail 24. while the head portion of the next rearward unground tappet is in contact with the inclined face 25 of said bridge rail, and held, along with the rest of the unground tappets, from any forward movement until the aforesaid foremost tappet of the series is engaged and moved forward from its above described position by the automatic positioning means now to be described.

Near the forward end of the horizontal portion 12 of the receiving track or table 1], a s ring actuated holding block or jaw 26 is s idingly arranged at one side. of the central runway of said track portion 12 and projecting into said runway. The side of the block or jaw 26 facing said runway is formed with a bevelled rear portion 27 and forward of the same with a V sha recess 27' as shown in Fig. 5, with the beve portion 27 adapted for contact with the shank portion of a forwardly moving ta pet to effect a retracting movement of the Block or jaw, and so that in a final forward movement of said tappet to aligned relation with the V shape 27' of the holding jaw. the same will move under the influence of its spring into holding engagement with the shank of the tappet to yieldingly hold the tappet in proper position for engagement by the gr 1p per head and mechanism of the swinging carrier hereinafter described.

Another and coacting portion of the positioning mechanism consists of a horizontally arranged hook bar 28, see Figs. 2 and 5, having longitudinal reciprocation in operativerelation to an open sideof the receiving track or table 11, and the series of unground tappets supported thereon. Reciprocating movement, in unison wit-h the other units of the present structure, may be attained by any suitable means, preferably by a carrier head or block 29 fixedly attached to the herein after described reciprocating rack bar of the mechanism by which oscillation is imparted to the swinging carrier of the machine. In the construction shown in Figs. 2, 5 and 6, the hook bar 28 is pivotally mounted at its forward end on the carrier head 29 and is yieldingly moved towards the-trackway 11 by an interposed spring 28. The. rear and free ends of said bar 28 is formed with a lateral hook or prong 30, of an approximately triangular shape. Associated with such rear end of the hook bar 28, is a spring 31, the tendency of which is to yieldingly force the hook or prong 30 towards the central runway of the receiving track or table 11 aforesaid, and between the foremost and next foremost of the series of unground tappets on said track ortable, to thus attain operative engagement with the shank of the foremost of said tappets, and operative contact with the shank of the next foremost tappet and force the same in a rearward direction from the heretofore described riding position of its head portion upon the head portion of the foremost tappet to a position to subsequently replace the said foreill most tappet.

In its forward stroke, the hook bar 28 carries the foremost tappet, above mentioned, alongthe receivingtrack or table 11 and central runway thereof and force the shank portion of such tappet into the heretofore described yielding engagement with the spring holding block or jaw 26 aforesaid.

The swinging carrier heretofore referred to, and by which the unfinished tappet is picked up from the holding block or jaw 26 aforesaid, by the headed portion of the tappet, and carried to and delivered between the grinding, wheel 1 and feeding wheel 2 of a ccnterless roll grinding machine, and as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 8, 11, 15 and 16 comprises an oscillatory crane arm 32 fixed at its lower end on a transverse tubular shaft 33, the housing 34 of which is fixedly attached to the rear of the hopper 6, with said housing containing the operating mechanism, hereinafter described in detail, by which an intermittent oscillatory movement, approximately 90, in a vertical plane is imparted to said crane arm.

At its upper end the crane arm 32 is of a yoke form and provided with bearings in which is journalled the journal hubs 35 of thesemi-rotary gripper head 36, now to be described.

In the preferred form shown in Figs. 1, 2, 15, 16 and 17, the gripper head 36 consists of two portions integrally connected in angular relation, with one portion forming the journal hub of the head and in turn providing a bearing for the hereinafter described semi-rotary pinion 'shaft 37* by which the automatic opening and closing movements of the, gripping jaws of the gripper head are controlled. The other portion of the gripper head 36 is of a flat formation and is provided with bearings for the journal stems of a pair of movable gripping jaws 38, arranged in opposed relation to each other and to a fixed abutment jaw 39 on said portion of the gripper head 36. V

The journal stems of the movable grip ping jaws 38 are connected together by gear wheels 40 in order that said aws will move in unison in their opening and closing movements, with one of said gear wheels in operative engagement. with the heretofore mentioned pinion shaft 37 as shown more particularly in Fig. 1.7, with said pinion 37 having operative engagement in turn with a toothed rack portion 4f of an operating stem 42 now to be described.

The operating stem 42, above referred to is slidingly mounted in a tubularbore of the journal hubs 35 of the gripper head 36 afore said, and near one end is forined with the aforesaid toothed rack formation 41 of the operating means of the gripping jaws 38 aforesaid.

A yielding tendency of the operating stem 42 to move in one direction to maintain the gripping jaws 38 in their normally closed condition is attained by an associated spring 43, while a positive movement of the stem 42 in an opposite direction to effect an 0 ening of the jaws 38 is attained throug a lever 44, pivoted on a side of the crane arm 32, with one arm of the lever in operative engagement with an end of the stem 42, and the other arm of the lever in operative engagement with a push rod 45, which in turn is operated by a tappet mechanism, hereinafter described and by whichv the opening movement of the gripping jaws 38, to at one time engage the head of an unground tappet on the receiving track or table 11 aforesaid, and at another and subsequent time open said jaws to release said tappet is automatically attained at proper intervals in the operation of the present machine.

In the present invention, and during a normal swing of the carrier and its crane arm 32 aforesaid, the gripper head 36 receives an independent circular movement of 180, with relation to the crane arm 32 with a view to attain a proper delivery position ing bar 55 carries their en aged condition,

of an unground tappet to the grinding machine by an arrangement of parts as follows:

A gear wheel 46 is fixedly connected with the gripper head 32 and is in operative engagement with a similar, but larger, sector gear wheel 47 journalled on the crane arm 32 and having an operating arm 48 which in turn has link connection i9with a stationary part of the supporting structure.

\Vith the described arrangement, the gripper head 32 will turn the above mentioned 180", during the period it is carried it is being bodily carried in the normal swing or oscillation of the crane arm 32 of the swinging carrier.

Proper intermittent operation vof the swinging carrier and control of the automatic gripping mechanism of the same is attained by driving and controlling means as follows:

A longitudinally arranged countershaft, formed by two aligned sections 50and 51, is journalled in hearings on a fixed portion of the structure asrshown in Figs. 2 and 8, with the rearward shaft section 50 receiving con-' stant rotation from the primary driving shaft 20, aforesaid, through an intermediate vertical shaft 52, having suitable gearing connections 20 and 50' with the aforesaid primary driving shaft 20, and rearward section 50 of the aforesaid countershaft section 50, as shown in Figs. 1, 7 and 8.

The aligned sections 50, 51 of the aforesaid countershaft are detachably coupled together by a clutch 53, the movable member 53' is actuated and controlled by means hereinafter described, and so that with the members of the clutch 53 in engagement the two shaft sections 50 and 51 will rotate in unison, while with said clutch members in a disengaged condition the forward shaft section 51 will come to a rest, while the rearward shaft section 50, will continue its rotation.

Undue rotation of the forward shaft section 51, due to momentum, when the members of the clutch 53 are released, is prevented by contact of the movable clutch member 53' with afriction cushion 54 arranged in the path of said clutch member, as illustrated in Fig. 8.

In the construction shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, the movable member 53 ofthe clutch 53 is operatively connected to a lon 'tudinally arranged sliding bar 55 by whic said movable clutch member is moved to its engaged and disengaged positions. The'slida pivoted dogor pawl 56 adapted to engage a fixed shoulder 57 of the structure to maintain the clutch mmbers in against the retracting ten ency of a spring 58, arranged between the sliding bar 55, and a fixed part of the structure, with said engaged condition of the clutch members prevailing until the 56 is moved to a release the operation of the combined grinding and by the feeding. mechanisms and by means-as follows At its forward end the sliding -b8 1" 5 5, i8

formed with an inclined contact complementar a vertically sliding bar 59, the lower end of which is arranged in the path of a rock arm 60, carried by the'heretofore described rock face 55", adapted for operative engagement with a inclined contact face 59' of shaft 3 of the ejector mechanism of :the

grinding machine,"with said rock-arm adapted to move the vertical bar '59 npwardsat the proper moment, to in turn-impartra rearward movement to the sliding-bar '55,

to move the movable member-53 of. the

clutch 53 into its above mentioned engaged condition, in which engaged position it is held by an automatic engagement of the pawl or dog 56 with thefixed stop'or shoulder 57 heretofore described.-

Adjacent to its forward end the forward shaft section 51 carries a. worm or screw '61 as shown in Fig. 10, that has operative-engagement with a worm wheel 62, the-carrying shaft 63 of which is revolubly mounted in the supporting housing 34 of the swinging carrier heretofore described, and .with .said shaft carrying the hereinafter described tappet and cam disk by which the release of the aforesaid clutch 53" and the serial open ing and closing movements of the ipp jaws 38 of the swingingcarrier affiresa i rf, are effected at the properperiods in the cycle of operations of the mechanism.-

In adjacent relation to the free face of the worm wheel 62 aforesaid, alongitudinally sliding rack bar 64 is mounted and has operative engagement with-the wormwheel.

62, by a crank pin 65 on the'worm wheel working in vertically slotted-head o'f'yoke 66 on the rack bar 64, and commonly termed a scotch yoke. The toothed portion of the rackbar 62 has operative engagement, in turn, with a gear wheel 67, mountedton the heretofore described tubular carrying shaft 33, of the crane arm 32 ofthe swinging carrier of the machine. The construction and arrangement of the parts is such that an oscillatory movement of 70 is' imparted to the shaft 33 and crane arm 32 in the normal operation of the machine. 3

lVith a view to avoidance of accident, or

breakage of parts due to accidental impedance in the normal movement ofthe crane arm 32 the aforesaid ear wheel64 islooselymounted on the sha 33 and has yielding driving engagement with .said shaft by a. preferred construction as follows:-.-

p Fixedly attached toshaft 38 is m abutment collar 68, as shown in Fig. 14, and between said collar and the gear wheel 67 a sliding sleeve 69 is arranged and connected to said shaft by a key, and keyway connection 70 to positively rotate in unison with said shaft While having a sliding movement thereon.

The face of the sliding sleeve 69 adjacent to the gear wheel 63 is formed with one or more recesses 71, the opposed walls of which have an inclined formation, and are adapted to engage complementary lugs or projections 72 on the side of the gear wheel 64 and pro vide an operative engagement between said sleeve and said gear wheel in the normal operation of the mechanism. Intermediate of the sleeve 69 and the abutment collar 68, one or more compression springs 73 are arranged, and are adapted to yieldingly maintain an operative engagement between the aforesaid recesses 71 and lugs 72 in the normal operation of the mechanism,and under excess stress permit movement of the lugs 72 out of operative engagement in the recesses 71 aforesaid.

In the preferred construction shown in Figs. 8, 11 and 15, the before described push rod 45 by which the gripping aws 38 of the gripper head 36 aforesaid are operated, extends through and is guided in the central bore of the tubular carrying shaft 33 of the swinging carrier, with its end opposite to that engaging the operating lever 44 of the gripping jaws, adapted for operative engagement by the controlling mechanism now to be described.

The carrying shaft 63 of the worm wheel 62 extends outside the enclosing casing 34, and carries a rotary disk 74 upon which are attached operating lugs as follows:

A single lug or tappet 75 is secured to the periphery of the rotary disk 74, and has movement in a path in which a projecting portion or toe of the heretofore described pawl or dog 56 of the clutch actuating mechanism extends, and so that as said lug 75 reaches operative engagement with said projecting portion or toe of the holding pawl or dog 56 the same Will be pushed out of holding engagement with the aforesaid stop shoulder 57 permitting the spring 58 to move the clutch 53 into an open or disen aged condition.

In addition to the lug or tappet 75 above described, a pair of cams .or tappets 76, 77, are secured in circular spaced relation in an adjustable manner on the rotary disk 74 aforesaid, and in a path outside the path of the single tappet 75 aforesaid. The cams or tappets 76, 77, are adapted for serial operative engagement with one end of a rock lever 78, the other end of which has operative engagement with an adjacent end of the heretofore described push rod 45. The arrangement of the parts is such that with the gripper head 36 of the crane arm 32 of the swinging work carrier, in a position to pick up and carry an unground tappet, the gripping jaws 38 will be caused to open by the foremost tappet 76 to engage the head of the unground tappet and then released to close upon and grip said head. In like manner, as said gripper head 36, holding an unground tappet, reaches a position in which the unground tappet is to be deposited between the grinding wheel 1 and feeding wheel 2 of the centerless grinding machine, the other tappet 77 will come into action to cause the gripping jaws 38 to open and release the unground tappet which then descends by gravity between the aforesaid grinding and feeding wheels 1 and 2.

With a view to the prevention of accidental stoppage of the mechanisms above described by a premature stoppage of the lug or tappet 75, in aligned relation with the respective operating projection of the holding pawl or dog 56, a construction of parts as follows is provided:

The central and main portion of the rotary disk 74 aforesaid is fixed on its carrying shaft 63 and has an annular rim portion or ring 79, loosely mounted on its periphery so as to be capable of independent turning movement, with such turning movement of the rim portion limited in extent by a lug 80 on one part moving in an elongated slot 81 in the other portion, while a normal forward position of the ring is yieldingly maintained by an intermediate compression spring 82. In such construction the aforesaid lug or tappet 75, is carried by the ring or annular portion 79, and as said lug or tappet reaches an operative position, the stress or resistance met with effects a compression of the spring 82 until the lug 80 of the hub portion of the rotary disk 74 reaches the forward end of the elongated slot 81 of the ring or annular portion 79, at which point positive revolution of the parts takes place with positive action on the part of the said lug or tappet.

lVith the crest of said lug or tappet 75, reaching the contact point of the pawl 56 which it operates, the stored energy of the spring 82 acts to return the annular portion or ring 79 to its normal position above described, and carry the lug or tappet 75 a distance beyond such point of o erative contact, thus preventing any sta ling of the mechanism due to the crest of the lug or tappet 7 5, coming to a rest or stop in aligned relation to the point of contact with the holding pawl it is adapted to operate.

The operation of the present mechanism in general is as follows:

With the present feeding mechanism in the position of parts illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, with the swinging work carrier 32 and its gripper head 36 in a position adjacent to the grinding wheel 1 and feeding wheel 2, of a centerless roll grinding machine, said gripper head, holding by its gripping jaws 38, 38 and 39, an unground tappet in proper position for delivery. The mechanisms and partsbeing at rest in the described position, the subsequent automatic operation of such mechanisms and parts is as follows:

As the rock shaft 3, receives a rocking movement in the operation of ejecting a ground tappet as it passes down from between the grinding and feeding wheels 1 and 2, of a centerless grinding machine, the rock arm 60, on said rock shaft 3 has engagement with the vertically sliding bar 59, to move the same upwards, and in turn impart rearward longitudinal movement to the sliding bar 55, through the inclined contact faces and 59' of said parts.

WVith lon itudinal rearward movement of the sliding I ar 55, the movable clutch member 53' is moved into engagement with the stationary member of the clutch 53 to cause rotation of the countershaft section 51, to in turn impart rotation and movement to the automatic mechanisms of the present structure.

During the described longitudinal rearward movement of the sliding bar its holding dog or pawl 56 comes into engagement with the fixed shoulder or stop 57 to lock the sliding bar 55 in its rearward position, against the retractile tendency of the spring 58, with the aforesaid clutch members in engagement. The rotation of the coun-tershaft section 51 thus attained, is

imparted by the heretofore described intermediate gearing and connections to the swinging work carrier 32, to cause the same to complete its forward swinging movement, at or about which point, the cam or tappet 76 acting against the rock lever 8, imparts transverse movement to the push rod 45, which in turn and through the lever 44 operatin stem 42, and gearing connections 41, 37 and 40 arts to impart an openingmovement to the gripping jaws 38, to release an unground tappet, held therebetween, so that such tappet will fall by gravity between the grinding and feeding wheels 1 and 20f the grinding machine.

\Vith such delivery of an unground tappet attained, the swinging work carrier 32 then continues and completes a rearward swinging movement, to bring the gripper head 36 and gripping jaws 38, 38, 39, into proper position to grip an unground tappet held in the spring holding block or aw 26, at which stage in the movement of the carrier 32, the cam or tappet 77 acts through the aforesaid lever 78, push rod 45, lever 44, stem 42 and gearing connections 41, 37 and 40, to impart an opening movement to the gripping jaws 38 aforesaid, to engage an unground tappet in the aforesaid holding block or jaw 26, and then permit said gripping jaws 38 to close upon and hold said unground tappet, under the normal tendency of said jaws to a closed position, when not held open positively.

lVith the completion of the described rearward swinging movement of the work carrier 32, the same begins a forward swinging movement and continues the same until it reaches the position first above described in the cycle of operations of the mechanisms, and as it reaches such position the cam or tappet contacts with the holding dog or pawl 56, to release the same from holding engagement with the fixed shoulder or stop 57, and permit the spring 58, to impart a forward movement to the sliding bar 55, thereby moving the movable clutch member 53' to its disengaged position, to cause a stoppage of the aforesaid mechanisms, until the rock shaft 3 of the ejector mechanism of the associated grinding machine starts up a fresh cycle of the movements above described.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an automatic feeding mechanism of the type described, the combination of a work supporting track or table for the articles to be finished, a swinging carrier in operative relation to said track and having at its free end a work gripping means, means for imparting a swinging movement to the carrier to and from said supporting track, means actuated by mechanism of an associated finishing machine for starting the Carrier operating means in action, the said carrier operating means including means for automatically stopping the operating means of the carrier when the carrier is in adjacent relation to finishing means of an associated finishing machine, means for automatically opening and closing the work gripping means of the carrier, when said carrier is in a position adjacent to the supporting track, and means for opening said gripping means when the carrier is in close relation to said finishing means of an associated finishing machine.

2. In an automatic feeding mechanism of the type described the combination of a work supporting track or table for the articles to be finished, a swinging carrier in operative relation to said track and having at its free end work gripping means, means for imparting a swinging movement to the carrier to and from said supporting track, the same comprising a driving countershaft, an intermittent driven shaft, a clutch connection between said shafts, intermittently acting means for moving said clutch to its active condition, a spring acting to move said clutch to an lnactive condition, a pawl adapted to hold said clutchin its active condition, a rotary cam disk operatively connected to said driven shaft and carrying a cam lug or tappet adapted to move the aforesaid pawl to a release condition, operative connections between the carrying shafts of the aforesaid cam disk and swinging carrier for imparting movement to said carrier and means operating in unison with said cam disk for effecting a periodical opening and closing of the gripping means of the carrier.

3. In an automatic feeding mechanism of" means for moving saidclutch to itstactive condition, a spring acting to move said clutch to an inactive condition, a pawl adapted to holdsaid clutch in its active'condition, a ro-' tary cam disk oeratively connected to said driven I shaft and carrying a resiliently mounted cam lug or tappet adapted to more the aforesaid pawl to a release condition, op'-" erative connections between the carryingshaft of the aforesaid cam disk and swinging carrier for imparting movement tosaid car rier, and means operating in unison withzsaid cam disk for effecting periodical openingand closing of the gripping means of-said carrier;-

4. In an automatic feeding mechanism of the type described the combination of a work supporting track or table for the articles-to be finished, a swinging carrienin-operative relation to said track and having at its freeend a work gripping means, means for 1m parting a swinging movement to the-carrier to and from said supporting tHlQlQ'f/he same comprisinga driving countersha ft, an intermittent driven shaft, a clutch connection between sa'id shafts, a sliding bar connected to the movable element of said clutch and receiving intermittent movement from an asso-.-

ciated finishing machine to move the clutch to its active condition, a spring acting to move said clutch to an inactive condition, a pawl adapted to hold said clutch in its active condition, a rotary cam disk operatively connected to said driven shaft and carrying a cam lug or tappet adapted to move the aforesaid pawl to a release condition, operative connections between the carrying shafts of,

the aforesaid cam disk and swinging carrier for imparting movement to said carrier, and means operatmg inunison with said cam disk for effecting a periodical opening and closing of the gripping meansof-the carrier.

5. In an automatic feeding mechanism; of

work supporting track or table for the articlesto be finished, a swinging carrier in operative relation to said'track and having at its free'enda work gripping means, meansfor imparting-a swinging movement to the carrier toxand from saidsupporting track,

the same comprising a driving countershaft,

an intermittent driven shaft, a clutch connection between said shafts, intermittently acting means for moving said clutch to its active condition, the same comprising a rock arm movingin unison with an element of an associated finishing machine and having 0perative connection with the. movable element of said clutch, a spring'active to move said clutch to anHi-nactive condition,--a pawl.

adapted tohold saidclutch in its active condition, a rotary cam disk operatively connected to said-driven shaft and carrying a cam lug or tappet adapted to move the aforesaid pawl toa release condition, operativeconnection between. the carrying shafts of the aforesaid cam disk. and swinging carrier for imparting movement to said carrier, and means operating, in unison with said cam disk for effecting a periodical opening and closing of the gripping means of the carrier.

6. In an automatic feeding mechanism of the type described, the combination of a work supporting track or tablefor the articles to be finished, a swinging carrier in operative relation to said track and having at its free end a work-gripping means, means for imparting a. swinging movement to the carrler to. and from said supporting track,. the same comprislng av driving countershaft, an inter mittent driven shaft, a clutch connection between said shafts, intermittently acting meansfor moving said clutch to its active condition, a spring acting to move said clutch to an inactive condition, a pawl "adapted-toholdsaid clutch in its active condition, a-rotarye cam disk operatively connected to said driven shaft and carrying a camlug .or tappet adapted to move the aforesaid pawl to. a release condition, operative connectionsbetween the'carrying shafts of v theaforesaid cam disk and swinging carrier for lmpart ng movement to said carrier, the same comprlsinga crank pin on said cam .disk, a sliding rack bar having a yoke member engaging said crank pin, and a gear wheel on the carrying shaftof the swinging earner having operative engagement with said-rack bar, and means operating in unison with said; camdisk for effecting a periodic vopening.andckpsing of the gripping means of the carrier.. a v

7. In an automatic feeding mechanism of the type described the combination of a work supportingtrackor table for the articles to be finished, a swinging carrier in operative end a work gripping means, means for imrelationto said track and having at its free the type described, the combination of a parting aswlnging movement to the carrier carrier having operative engagement-wit to and from said track, the

' a driving .countershaitg an inte r' a mittent driven shaft, a clutch connection between said shafts, intermittentl' acting the aforesaid vca m disk andswingingzcarrier for imparting movement to said carrier, the 1 same comprising a crank pin on said disk, a sliding rack bar having a yoke member engaging said crank 'pin, and ;a. -gear wheel on the carrying shaft, of the swingin said rack bar,said gear wheel having yielding operative connection with the carrying shaft of the swinging carrier, and. means op erating in unison with said cam vdiskfor efiecting a periodic opening a'nd closing of the gripping means of the carriera'.

the type described, the combination ofa receiving track for the articles to belfini sh'ed,

a swinging carrier in operative relation to."

saidtrackwa the same comprising .a crane arm, a plura ityof gripper aws carried at the free end of the crane arm, means- ;for normally holding'said jaws in a closedco'n j dition, means for impartingintei'mit nt 0. cillation to said cranearm with thesame have ing riods .of rest nearthe ends of its forwar and backward swing, automatic means for effecting 'a temporary openin v movement; gement wit ,ansarticle to be carried as jsai V crane arm. nears its rearward stroke, and for effecting a like movement. of said jaws asv the crane of said jaws for e nears its forward stroke.

9. In an automatic p I v the type described the combination of are:

ceiving track for the articles to be'fifl sh d, a

swinging carrier in operative. relation to said trackway, the same comprising acrane arm, a plurality of gripper jawsfcarried at free end of the crane arm, means fornorl'nallyf holding said jaws in a closedcoondition,

means for imparting intermittent Ioscillation to said 'crane' arm with the, same having periods of rest near the; ends of itsj for; ward and backward-swing, automatic means for effecting a; temporaryopening rnovement, ofsaid jaws for engagement with air artiole to be carried as said crane arm nearsits rearward stroke, and forfefiectinga like opening;

movement of said jaws as the crane arm nears its forward stroke, the same COIIlPllSlIlg a rotary cam disk receiving motion from the,

operating'mechanism of the crane arm and carrying a pair of-circularly spacedtappets,

the .tYP T described, the v combination of a intermediate operative connections' 'lietween said anal-th vralitiof g ipper jaws.

10. .In' an automatic feedi'n of f the typedescr'ibed the combmatio nof ceiving track forf'the articles to be a swinging carrier-in operative relation-to said trackwa'y the same comprising'a'ic'rane arm, a semi-rotary'head mounted "on thefre for imparting intermittentoscillation to said crane arm, means for eflecting' porary opening movement to said jawsne'ar the, ndof'the forward and of craneaarm-and mean's for gemimmim the OM 1 ms'the movements Ofthe'fbmymu;

11. 111 an automatic of thetype described the comb nation of ce'iving track forthearticles to be finished,

a swinging carrier in operativerel'a ioli said trackway, the same :eo'mprisinga" mas arm, a. semi-rotary headmounted -0 'endof said crane arm aplura'lity'bf ppei 8. In an automatic feeding. mechan sm of jaws-mounted on said hea.d',-me'a'ns or no'r-' mally holding said jaws in' a closed "condition,

t said-crane arm, means for efieotin'g porary openingmovement to said jaws new theend: 0f the forward and stroke of said. cranearm and -means for imparting semi-rqtationto the. aforesaid th'e-' swinging; movements of arm, samecomprisinga 'ge ar wheel fixed on sa'id sem -rotar head, a'sector' gear on the} crane: armand having opmtiwefen' gagement with: said gear 'wheelfa'nd i neoting-dink-having ecoent' ri'c pi'vdd nection at one; end-with said-sector gear-f wheel and at its rother end i-votal'attach's 'mentgto; a stationary, part 0 the structilre."

-12..'Inan automatic feedin mechanism of ceivin'g track forthe articles to be a I swinging carrier "in operative relation said a trackway,-'-"the same comprisinga arm, a semirotary head-mounted on 1e1 d=of=said crane arm, a fixed'gri perjaws and acompanion; pair of pivo jaws mounted: on;-;said sem1 rotary "ea ,1- I transversely movin rackbarhaving opera tive 'connections.--w1th the=hub portions of v-the,-'pairofspivotedigripper jaws, means for -.imparting reciprocationto said rackba'r, the same comprising a lever pivoted in the arm-withone iend bearing against saidrack bar,ia rotary camdisk moving in unison:

,with the operatingmechanism' of the crane a'rrn. and carrying a pair "of tappets" in circul a r ;spaced relation; a rocking lever arranged :for :serialoperation by said tappets 1 .and 'a transverse rod liavi'n operative con-- nection atone end with said rocking lever v of the crane arm and carrying a pairt'oftapf and at the, other end with jaws and a companion pair the aforesaid lever carried by the crane arm.

13. In an automatic feeding mechanism of the type described the combination of a,

receiving track for the articles to be finished, a swinging carrier in operative relation to saidtrackway, the same comprising a crane. arm, a. seml-rotary head mounted on the free end of said crane arm, a fixed gripper movement to 'the raok bar in the opposite the same comprising a lever pivdirection, oted 'on the crane arm with one end bearing against said rack bar, a rotary cam 'disk' moving in unison with the operating mech'a-' nism of the crane arm and carrying a pair. 7 of tappets in circular spaced relation, a rock-fv a'fing lever arranged for serial operation by said tappets, and a transverse yrod" having operative connectlon at one end with said rocking lever and at the other endwith the I g of the type described, a, positioning means aforesaid lever carried by the crane arm 14. In' an automatic feeding mechanism of the type described, thecombinationof a receiving track for the articles to be'finished, a swingingcarrier in operative relation to said trackway, the same comprising a crane] arm, a semi-rotary head mounted on the" free end of said crane arm, a fixed gripper jaws and a compamon pair of pivoted ..gr ipper jaws mounted on said semi-rotary. head, a transversely moving rack bar having oper-f. ative connections with gear formations on adapted to-efiect a rearward separation of the hub gripper members, means for imparting reciprocat on portions of the aforesaid pivoted to said rack bar, the same comprising a lever,

pivoted on the crane arm with'one end bearing. against said rack bar, a rotary cam disk moving in unison "with operating mechanism pets in circular spaced relation, arocking ever arranged for serial operation by said tappets,- and a transverse rod having operative connection at one end with said rocking lever and at the other end with theia'fore said l'ever carried by the crane arm.

15. In an automatic feeding'mechanism of the type described a Drising a trackway formed by a pair of rails in spaced relation horizontal forward portion and a rearward upwardly inclined portion, a spring actu ated" holding block arranged at one side of the forward portion of the trackway, and a of pivoted grip;

jaws through intermediate gearing I positioning means for the articles to be finished,.the same com and formed with a ,of the type described a positioning 'means r h rticles to, be finished,thesame comprising a trackway formed by' a pair of rails in spaced relation and formed with a horizontal forward "portion and a, rearward upwardly inclined portion, ated holding block arranged the forwardat one side of said-horizontal trackway portion and receivport ionof the trackway, and a pivotally mounted hook, bar moving along a spring actu- I ing intermittent reciprocation from the operatingmechanism of an associated carrier to the aforesaid holding block, the of saidhook bar, having an ap- Y articles to Jfree end" -effect a separationof the forward pair of gaging said hook barend to guide said end between apair of the articles in the rearward movement ofthe hook bar. v.

117. In ,an automatic-feeding mechanism point of,; intersectiQ of. the horizontal and inclined the articles on thetrackway in their forward-travel thereon,and a pi-votally mounted hook bar; moving along said horizontal traclrway portion and receiving intermittent rec'procation-from the operating mechanism of an associated carrier to serially and individually feed the said holding block.-,.-

1 18. v-Inan automatic feeding mechanism of the type described,- the combination of a holding hopper formed with a longitudinal articles on the trackway and a spring en-" portions; of thetrackway, and 1'0 articles, to the aforeserially and individually feed the unfinished proximately triangular shape adapted to' face ar-' ranged above the trackwa'y vadjacent to the slot extending, fromithe mid-length to one," end of the hopper-,areceiVirig track having aligned relation to selector member of a segmentalform having movement in said slot-and adapted to registerwithsaid receiving track, and means for imparting oscillatory movement to said selectormember. w

19. .In -v a n automatic feeding mechanism of the holding hopper formed with a longitudinal slot extending from the mid-length to one end of the hopper, a receiving track. havin -an. i nc1ined portion in aligned relation witfi said slot, an oscillatory type'described, the combination of a said slot, an oscillatory selector member of a segmental form having movement in said slot and adapted to register with said inclined portion of the receiving track, and means for imparting an oscillatory movement to said selector member. a

20. In an automatic feeding mechanism of the type described, the combination of a holding ho per formed with a longitudinal slot extending from the mid-length to one end of the hopper, a receiving track having aligned relation to said slot, an oscillatory selector member comprising a pair of segmental plates secured together in spaced relation and having movement in said slot with their upper edges adapted to register with said receivin track, and means for imparting an oscilfiitory movement to said selector member.

21. In an automatic feeding mechanism of the type described, the combination of a holding hopper formed with a longitudinal slot extending from the mid-length to one end of the hopper, a receiving track having an inclined portion in aligned relation with said slot, an oscillatory selector member comprising a pair of segmental plates secured together in spaced relation and having movement in said slot with their upper edges trac and means for im arting an oscillatory movement to said so ector member.

22. In an automatic feeding mechanism of the type described, the combination of a holding hopper formed with a lon itudinal slot extending from the mid-lengt to one end of the hopper, a receivin track comprisin a pair of rails secured together in s ace relation and in alignment with said s ot, an oscillatory selector member comprising a pair of segmental plates secured together in spaced relation and having movement in said slot with their upper edges.

adapK ed to register with said receiving ment in said slot and adapted to register with said inclined portion of the track, and

means for imparting oscillatory movement to said selector member.

24. In an automatic feeding mechanism of the type described, the combination of a holding hopper formed with a lon itudinal slot extending from the mid-length to one end of the hopper, a receiving track comprising a pair of rails secured together in spaced relation and in alignment with said slot,,an oscillatory selector member of a segmental form having movement in said slot and adapted to register with said receiving track, means for imparting oscillato movement to said selector member, a reciprocating clearer head moving on the receivin track, and o rative connection between said clearer head and the oscillatory selector member.

25. In an automatic feeding mechanism of the type described, the combination of a holding hopper formed with a lon 'tudinal slot extending from the mid-lengt to one end of the hopper, a receivin track comprising a pair of rails secure together in spaced relation and in alignment with said slot, an oscillatory selector member of a segmental form having movement in said slot and adapted to register with said receiving track, means for imparting oscill'ato movement tosaid selector member, a reciprocating clearer head formed with a top web and side flanges in spaced relation and having movement on .the'receiving track, and o rative connections between saidclearer ead and the oscillatory selector member,

26. In an automatic feeding mechanism of the type described, the combination of a holding hopper formed with a longitudinal slot extending from the mid-length to one end of the hopper, a receiving track comprising a pair of rails secured together in s aced relation and in alignment with said s at, an oscillatory selector member of a segmental form having movement in said slot and adapted to register with said receiving track, and means for imparting oscillatory movement to said selector member, the same comprising a vibratory arm on the selector member, and a link connecting said am to the clearer head.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

GEORGE IRVING DANLY. 

